Vedic Sidereal Astrology

What is astrology?

Astrology is the science of stars, which examines the positions of planets and other heavenly bodies and concentrates on the study of the effects of these positions of living beings.

The term astrology comes from the Latin word astrologia, which translates to the science and study of the stars.

Astrology is deeply linked with astronomy, which is the science that studies all the celestial objects. Hence, all the scientific details including physical properties of celestial objects play a major role in determining the exact effect on human being and their behavior.

As a part of astrology is metaphysical, it is termed as pseudoscience. That is, some of the effects that are caused as per astrological indications, can not be physically or scientifically fully explained.

At the same time, it is considered science as involving real objects that have physical properties and can be interpreted with mathematical formulas and scientific properties. Similarly, the astrological birth chart is created using mathematical formulas that reflect the positioning of these celestial objects.

In addition to that, the effects and accuracy of astrology are tested and proven throughout the history of the human race.

That is why it is considered real science, which at the same time has a metaphysical effect, that cannot be seen or touched and is termed pseudoscience as a result.

What is Vedic sidereal astrology?

Vedic astrology uses the sidereal system which observes actual star or nakshatra positions of the planets.

Using this, allow us to make more precise interpretations that are in full accordance with the cosmic climate.

Why are outer planets, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto not practiced in Vedic astrology?

The reason for this is that these planets are outer planets of our Solar system and thus have a less direct effect on life on Earth. In fact, in addition to these outer planets, there are also other objects (after Pluto) that might be orbiting our solar system but these do not have to be necessarily included in birth chart readings of Earthlings.

In addition to that, these planets are called outer planets because they are not visible with own eyes when observing the skies.

As inner planets can be seen with the plain eye, they are said to give a direct effect on us and material reality. This is why ancient sages of astrology adapted these planets into the system called Vedic astrology or Jyotish in Hindi.

What is the difference between Vedic sidereal and western tropical astrology?

Vedic astrology is recognized as sidereal astrology in modern days. The fundamental astronomical difference between tropical and sidereal astrology is that they use different timing systems wherein a sidereal timing system is applied in Vedic astrology.

The sidereal timekeeping system is actually used by astronomers to keep track of Celestial Objects and their actual positions in the sky.

The word sidereal is derived from the Latin ford sidus which means star or nakshatra.

This means that the length of a sidereal year is the actual time that takes for the Sun to make a full circle and return to the same position with respect to the star or nakshatra as it started.

To be specific, the length of a sidereal day is 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds. Accordingly, the sidereal year becomes about 20 minutes longer when compared to the tropical year due to the precession of the equinox.

Why are my tropical and sidereal zodiac signs different?

This difference is caused by the precession of Vernal equinox which means that the rotational axis of the Earth is shifting slowly and it takes 25,800 years for the axis of Earth to make a full rotation.

Tropical astrology fixes the vernal equinox of the Northern Hemisphere to 0 degrees of Aries, which in other words is the Sun’s position at the March equinox. The precession of the equinox is not considered in this system and therefore rest of the zodiac circle is defined from this point.

However, the sidereal system defines all zodiac signs from the point relative to the motion of stars due to the precession of the equinox.

Accordingly, the two systems become different as they drift 1 degree apart every 72 years, as on system accommodates the precession of equinox while another does not.

As a result of these, the positions of planets in the tropical birth charts in modern days are also drifted apart from their actual positions in the sky with respect to the stars or nakshatras.

Why is tropical astrology still used when there is such a difference?

When tropical astrology was adopted during the Hellenistic period (323 – 32 BC), the difference between sidereal and tropical was very small.

Hence, during the time when tropical astrology was taken into use, the tropical and sidereal zodiacs were lined up almost perfectly.

This also means that tropical birth chart calculations made back in that time were almost in synch with actual star positions.

That is, back in these times, 0 degrees of Aries of Vernal Equinox (aka First Point Of Aries) corresponded to actual Aries constellation. However, due to the precession of the equinox, it no longer does correlate.

As the equinox shifts approximately 1 degree every 72 years, the Earth axis has drifted to approximately 6 degrees of Pisces during the time from the Hellenistic period to the present day and age. It will drift to Aquarius by the year 2600.

Accordingly, the difference is approximately 23 degrees today which is almost the span of a full sign of 30 degrees. That means that most likely, many planets in the sidereal birth chart are in different signs when compared to the tropical chart.

Ayanamsha Correction

Now when it comes to the calculation of the birth chart using a modern calendar, which is accommodated with the tropical year (which is approx 20 minutes shorter than a sidereal year), it comes to a conflict with the real positioning of Sun with the respect of star positions.

As a result, the planetary positions are out of synchronization in a tropical birth chart with respect to actual positions of planets.

In Vedic sidereal astrology, however, the correction degree that synchronizes the modern calendar year with an actual cosmic calendar (sidereal solar year) automatically.

The term is called Ayanamsha in Vedic astrology. To be specific, the most accurate True Lahiri/Chitrapaksha Ayanamsha, which is currently exactly 22.46047 degrees is added during the calculation of the birth chart which synchronizes the drift of equinox.

As a result, we get a precise position of the planets with respect to actual star positions as a result.

The Ayanamsha will take care that the accurate sidereal calculations will be precise while the equinox continues to drift 1 degree westwards every 72 years.

For the same reason, Ayanamsha can be simply called the difference of degree between tropical and sidereal planetary positions, whereas the sidereal is true and shows actual planetary degrees. For instance, when you were born on 10th September 1994, your actual and true Sun sign is Leo (sidereal), and not Virgo (tropical). This is why the Sun sign in tropical or western astrology birth chart is different when compared to the Vedic sidereal astrology birth chart.

Probably most of you, who have different Sun signs in tropical and sidereal, can actually more relate to the sidereal Sun sign as per character and inner soul.

Let us see what people from the community say

Vedic Weekday

This also means that the actual sidereal birthday is different from the birthday in the calendar when a person is born. The actual birthday is termed as Vedic Weekday which carries a lot of importance because each day is ruled by each planet. For instance, when a person was born on the Vedic weekday of Wednesday, it means that this soul was sent to earth by Mercury or Hermes which gives a lot of information about the soul purpose of the native.

As the zodiac signs are different in both astrological branches, it means that the characteristics of zodiac signs are also a bit different. In tropical, the characteristics must be adapted and changed accordingly with the precession of equinox while in sidereal the characteristics of zodiac signs remain the same from beginnings of ages till today.

This is why in sidereal, it is possible to rely on ancient scriptures while reading birth charts.

This is also why readings in tropical and Vedic astrology are done differently. Both lead to correct and precise results but from a completely different angle. For instance, the planetary lordships and aspects are completely different in both systems.

In fact, there is also a branch called western sidereal astrology which uses same timing system as Vedic does. The aspect and planetary lordship system remains different.

Proof

Proof of this can be examined using plain eyesight as well. If you look at the night sky and find a planet in a specific position with respect to the stars, you can see that your sidereal birth chart has exact same actual position while tropical western chart has other position that in the actual sky.

If you have no experience in finding planets with the naked eye, you can use an astronomical application, such as Stellariumin order to see actual planetary positions and compare it to the Vedic sidereal astrology birth chart of the same date and time when you are observing the sky.

Example of 17.02.2020

The actual positioning of Venus in Pisces in the skyThe actual positioning of Venus in Pisces in the sidereal birth chartVenus in Aries in the tropical western birth chart at the same time

Astrology, Philosophy & Religion

To begin with, astrology is and never was any branch of witchcraft because astrology uses real science and physical objects in order to derive the results, and not any ghosts or magic.

In religion, the exploitation of witchcraft or magic is strongly prohibited as it means to go against the will of God by altering the destiny of events and people. Doing anything that opposes the almighty God is indeed sinful, and astrologers strongly agree on this.

What is more, astrology is proof that black magic actually does not work. All the curses or blessings a person has are the direct result of their own deeds and the destiny of a person and its soul is never reliant on a third person. Everything is always in the hands of almighty God.

Map Towards Enlightenment & Righteousness

Hence, practicing and studying astrology is not sinful as it does not involve the exploitation of magic or witchcraft that alters human behavior. Instead, astrologers concentrate on the natural will of God and use celestial bodies as a translation of the will of God.

In other words, astrologers take all the natural events, such as movements of planets as a sign from God, which tells us the right and moral path. In addition to that, astrology concentrates highly on righteousness and fulfillment of karma, that is assigned to us by almighty God.

Concentrates of righteousness & purity

Moreover, Vedic astrology concentrates on achieving salvation or the purest form of the soul which grants access to heaven and return to the one and only creator, almighty God. This proves that Vedic astrology purely concentrates on the purity of the soul and righteousness.

Example

As an instance from mundane life, meteorologists also predict or precalculate the climate and weather conditions in order to help humanity to prepare and behave accordingly. If tomorrow was going to snow and climate scientists warn and tell that to humans, it is a pious act as they help people to prepare and use winter tire that potentially saves tons of lives daily.

In fact, astronomy and astrology were used in medieval times to predict weather that was extremely important for sailors.

Astrology works the same way as astrologists examine the cosmic climate in order to guide people to the right path which is in accordance with the will of one and only almighty God.

According to the above mentioned, Vedic sidereal astrology is suitable for everyone, regardless of which background, ethnicity, or religion a person has.

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